At Genesis 1:2 the New World Translation renders רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים (ruach elohim) as “God’s active force”, with a footnote “Or ‘God’s spirit.’” The New Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible also render the phrase impersonally, as “a wind from God” and “a mighty wind”.
Claim ID claim-bible-gen-1-2-active-forceConcerns 2013Zusammenhang
Die Position der Organisation oder ihre spätere Erklärung: Die Fußnote der Reference Bible von 1984 erklärt: „Besides being translated ‚spirit,‘ ruʹach is also translated ‚wind‘ and by other words that denote an invisible active force“ — ruʹach werde außer mit „Geist“ auch mit „Wind“ und mit anderen Wörtern wiedergegeben, die eine unsichtbare wirksame Kraft bezeichnen.
2013 · Genesis 1:2 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“Now the earth was formless and desolate, and there was darkness upon the surface of the watery deep, and God’s active force was moving about over the surface of the waters.”
The 2013 rendering, with a footnote reading ‘Or “God’s spirit.”’
Hinweis zu Herkunft und Überprüfung for New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), Genesis 1:2
Hinweis zur Vertrauensangabe.Chapter page and footnote block opened on wol.jw.org on 19 September 2026 and read directly. Independent audit, 19 September 2026: this record previously also asserted the 1984 Reference Bible wording and footnote, which are on a different document; that material has been moved to src-nwtv-rbi8-gen-1-2, which carries its own URL.
“וְר֣וּחַ wə-rū-aḥ | And the Spirit | Conj-w | N-csc; אֱלֹהִ֔ים ’ĕ-lō-hîm | of God | N-mp; מְרַחֶ֖פֶת mə-ra-ḥe-p̄eṯ | was hovering | V-Piel-Prtcpl-fs”
The Hebrew phrase is רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים, ruach elohim. The noun ruach covers wind, breath and spirit; the construction itself does not decide between a personal and an impersonal sense.
19. September 2026 · Bible Hub (reproducing the named copyright translations)
“New International Version: “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” King James Bible: “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” New Revised Standard Version: “while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.” New American Bible: “with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters”.”
The New Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible both render ruach elohim impersonally at Genesis 1:2. The New World Translation's 'active force' is a stronger paraphrase than either, but the impersonal reading is not unique to it.
Hinweis zu Herkunft und Überprüfung for Bible Hub parallel translations, Genesis 1:2 in the parallel English versions
Hinweis zur Vertrauensangabe.Page opened and every rendering read on 19 September 2026 on Bible Hub's reproduction.
Notes.This quote field compiles renderings quoted separately from one Bible Hub parallel page; it is not a continuous passage. Each rendering was checked word for word against the page, which carries over forty versions.
Abgerufen. 19. September 2026 · Quellenkennung.src-nwtv-bh-gen-1-2
1984 · Genesis 1:2 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“Now the earth proved to be formless and waste and there was darkness upon the surface of [the] watery deep; and God’s active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters. … “And . . . active force (spirit).” Heb., weruʹach. Besides being translated “spirit,” ruʹach is also translated “wind” and by other words that denote an invisible active force.”
The 1984 Reference Bible's wording and its footnote on ruach, which is where the organisation explains the choice of ‘active force’.
Hinweis zu Herkunft und Überprüfung for New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References, Genesis 1:2 and its footnote
Hinweis zur Vertrauensangabe.Chapter page and footnote block opened on wol.jw.org on 19 September 2026 by the independent auditor and both read directly; wording confirmed character for character.
A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/de/evidence/claim-bible-gen-1-2-active-force/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.